As part of its mission to accelerate the clean energy transition, the TANDEMS project is leading a community-driven effort to retrofit multifamily buildings in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. Known for its rich heritage and ambitious climate goals, Gabrovo plays a key role in the TANDEMS project, which fosters collaboration between municipalities and energy cooperatives to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy adoption.
One of the most pressing challenges Gabrovo faces is the energy inefficiency of its multifamily residential buildings. Many of these structures, built decades ago, are outdated and consume excessive amounts of energy, resulting in high utility costs for residents. The TANDEMS project steps in to address this by providing pathways for residents to take ownership of the energy transition while benefiting from building retrofits that reduce energy waste and lower costs.
Citizen-Led Renovations: The Heart of the Project
In Gabrovo, the TANDEMS project supports retrofitting efforts through citizen-led initiatives. It engages residents of multifamily buildings in decision-making processes related to energy renovations, empowering them to shape the future of their homes by making informed choices about insulation, solar panel installations, and other energy-saving upgrades.
However, retrofitting multifamily buildings in Bulgaria presents unique challenges. During the 1990s, as part of the country’s privatization process, apartments were sold to individuals, but the buildings themselves were not privatized as a whole. This left ownership fragmented, with decisions about building renovations needing consensus from numerous owners, each with different financial capacities and priorities. Despite these obstacles, TANDEMS is making strides in uniting these stakeholders and pushing energy efficiency upgrades forward.
This community-driven approach is essential to the project’s success. By involving residents in the decision-making process, TANDEMS ensures that retrofitting efforts reflect the specific needs of the people who live in these buildings, rather than being imposed from above. This model fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, encouraging residents to maintain improvements and pursue further sustainability initiatives over time.
Financial Models for Accessible Energy Efficiency
One of the main barriers to retrofitting multifamily buildings is the financial burden on individual residents. To make these renovations more accessible, the TANDEMS project in Gabrovo employs an innovative financial model that distributes the costs across multiple stakeholders.
The Municipality of Gabrovo plays a pivotal role by offering administrative support and covering up to 40% of the renovation costs. Homeowners’ associations contribute around 15%, while the remaining funds come from local investors, energy traders, and EU grants. This collaborative financial model ensures that the burden on individual residents remains manageable, making it easier for them to participate in the energy transition.
This approach not only lowers financial barriers but also incentivizes a broad range of stakeholders—from local government to private investors—to get involved in supporting energy efficiency efforts.
Learning from Europe: Best Practices and Knowledge Sharing
Gabrovo is not alone in its quest for more energy-efficient homes. Through the TANDEMS project, the city partners with municipalities and cooperatives across Europe, benefiting from the experiences and best practices of other cities in Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. By working closely with partners like Kamp C in Belgium and Agem in the Netherlands, Gabrovo is adopting proven strategies for retrofitting buildings and adapting them to the Bulgarian context.
This cross-border knowledge exchange has been instrumental in overcoming technical, legal, and financial challenges. For example, Gabrovo has drawn inspiration from Dutch energy cooperatives, which focus on creating transparent and citizen-centered energy markets. These successful models show how energy cooperatives can unite residents, local authorities, and investors to drive large-scale energy renovations.
By incorporating these strategies, Gabrovo is creating a sustainable framework for retrofitting that can be replicated in other regions across Bulgaria and beyond.
Reducing Costs, Reducing Emissions
The benefits of retrofitting multifamily buildings extend far beyond lowering energy bills. By improving insulation, upgrading windows, and installing renewable energy sources like solar panels, these renovations significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This is a key part of Gabrovo’s plan to become a climate-friendly city, contributing to Bulgaria’s national energy efficiency goals and aligning with the European Union’s Green Deal, which aims to reduce Europe’s carbon footprint and promote sustainable development across the continent.
Looking Ahead: A Blueprint for the Future
Gabrovo’s success in retrofitting multifamily buildings through TANDEMS demonstrates the power of community-driven energy projects. By bringing together residents, local authorities, and private investors, the project is creating a replicable model that other cities and regions can follow.
Gabrovo’s approach proves that energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption can be achieved through collaboration, shared ownership, and innovative financial models. The city’s experience will serve as a valuable case study for other municipalities across Bulgaria and Europe that face similar challenges in retrofitting their building stock.
As the TANDEMS project progresses, Gabrovo’s experiences will inspire other communities to pursue their own pathways toward a sustainable future. By fostering community engagement, providing financial support, and creating a replicable framework, TANDEMS is ensuring that no one is left behind in the clean energy transition.
